The club is renowned for producing some outstanding young talent, with the list running well beyond the 25 year-old genius, renowned as the world's best player.

Names like Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Pique, Valdes and Guardiola may not have been so prominent in football circles had it not been for La Masia - Barcelona's famed youth academy.

The club's investment in youth has certainly paid off both financially and successfully.

There is no doubt the grooming of young talent pays off when players are on sold, but the success on the pitch is where it really matters and breeding players to play the style and formation that has won Barcelona so many trophies over the years has certainly paid dividends.

Aussie Barcelona

In Australia, the equivalent of Barcelona would have to be the Central Coast Mariners.

While the fast-paced transitional style of football played by Barcelona isn't quite matched by the Mariners, the side from Gosford is the prime example of consistency at both youth and senior level in what is a young A-League competition.

The Mariners have won two Premier's plates and made three grand finals since the league's debut season in 2005/06, while the youth side has won the premiership twice and been runners up once since the competition's first season in 2008/09.

This season the young Mariners were unlucky to lose out to the Victory youth on goal difference after the season deciding match between the two was cancelled three times due to poor weather and conditions.

And in Adelaide?

Over at Adelaide United, the club's last mark on the youth league honour role was in the inaugural National Youth League campaign when it was runners up and then lost the grand final to Sydney 2-nil.

That same season the senior team enjoyed relative success, also finishing runner up on goal difference to the Melbourne Victory for the premier's plate and then losing the grand final to the side in navy one-nil in controversial circumstances.

Since then the senior side's highest finish was third in 2010/11.

It's clear a club with a strong youth set up achieves success at senior level.

So what has gone wrong with Adelaide United?

Young talent

In recent times the Reds have found good young talent interstate. Winger Ian Ramsey was starring in Sydney FC's youth side before he made the trip west for more senior game time, while Antony Golec similarly came from the Harbour City.

This season the club capitalised on Gold Coast's unfortunate demise and signed young guns Daniel Bowles and Jake Barker-Daish.

Each of these players has time on their hands to achieve success at senior level and have shown glimpses of their quality.

And with no disrespect to interstate players, is the club neglecting local talent while searching for the next big thing?

The Newcastle Jets midfielder Craig Goodwin is one player who slipped past Adelaide United.

Having failed to secure a youth team contract with the Reds, Goodwin moved from Adelaide to Melbourne seeking a new opportunity with the Oakleigh Cannons in the Victorian Premier League.

And it wasn't long until that opportunity came.

Goodwin was signed by the Melbourne Heart to play in the youth league, but soon got the call up to play for the senior side.

He excelled and was named man of the match on debut.

Before long he'd signed a two year contract with Newcastle, where he continues to impress.

Another player Adelaide has missed out on is local boy Ben Garuccio.

The 17 year-old spent time in Canberra with the Australian Institute of Sport and was also signed by John Aloisi at the Melbourne Heart.

Aloisi, himself a product of South Australia, obviously has scouts in the local competition because he certainly knows how to spot a decent young player.

United's most exciting young players over the years like Matthew Leckie, Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite came to the club from interstate.

There is no doubt young talent can't be bred, however it can be groomed. This grooming must occur with the support of state and local-based football authorities in partnership with A-league clubs.

Barcelona and the Central Coast have shown youth team form clearly translates to senior team success.

The sooner Adelaide United realises that and invests in a strong youth program which promotes local talent, the sooner the club will return to the A-League summit.